Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin decisions, or who ventures to contradict us; but when temper and obstinacy show themselves, let us then say with Paul, that contentions are at variance with the custom of the Church 643
1 Corinthians 11:17-22
1 Corinthians 11:17-22 17. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
17. Hoc autem denuntians non laudo, quod non in melius, sed in peius convenitis.
18. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
18. Primum enim, convenientibus vobis in Ecclesiam, audio dissidia inter vos esse: et ex parte credo.
19. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
19. Oportet enim haereses quoque esse in vobis, ut qui probe sunt, manifesti fiant inter vos.
20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
20. Convenientibus ergo vobis in unum, non est Dominicam coenamedere. 21. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
21. Unusquisque enim propriam coenam praesumit edendo: atque hic quidem esurit, ille autem ebrius est.
22. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
22. Numquid domos non habetis, ad edendum et bibendum, aut Ecclesiam Dei contemnitis, et pudore afficitis eos qui non habent? Quid vobis dicam? Laudabo vos in hoc? Non laudo.
His reproof of the fault previously noticed was but a mild and gentle admonition, because the Corinthians sinned in ignorance, so that it was proper that they should readily be forgiven. Paul, too, had praised them in the outset, because they had faithfully kept his enactments. (1 Corinthians 11:2.) Now he begins to reprove them more sharply, because they offended more grievously in some things, and not through ignorance.
17. But, in warning you as to this, I do not praise. 644 For I translate it in this way, because Paul appears to have made the participle and the verb
643"Que ce n'est point la coustume de l'Eglise d'entrer en debats et contentions;" — "That it is not the custom of the Church to enter into strifes and contentions."
644"Or ie vous rememore ceci, non point eu louant. I1 y a au Grec mot; a mot. Or rememorant ie ne loue point;" — "But I put you in, mind of this, not praising you for it. It is literally in the Greek: But putting you in mind I do not praise."